St. Louis Rams Moving To Los Angeles? Owner Reportedly Building LA Stadium

The NFL is finally coming back to Los Angeles, according to a Monday report from the Hollywood Park Land Company. The St. Louis Rams are expected to move to L.A. in time for the 2016 season, as owner Stan Kroenke is already teaming with Stockbridge Capital Group to design and build an 80,000-seat stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

Per ESPN: The Rams are expected to convert their lease at St. Louis' Edward Jones Dome to a year-to-year agreement later this month, and if the team and the city fail to come to an agreement to build a new stadium, the Rams could move back to the area they called home from 1946 to 1994.

"We are excited to unveil an expanded plan that will bring a world-class sports and entertainment district to Hollywood Park," Stockbridge founder Terry Fancher said in a release. "We are committed to working with [the Kroenke Group] to build a project that will put Inglewood back on the map as home of the truly great sports and entertainment venues."

Developers said that no tax dollars would be used for the construction project, which includes the stadium and more than 4 million square feet of retail, office, hotel and residential space. The full package is projected to be ready in 2018.

A couple things need to happen before ground is broken, though: The project "must pass several political and environmental hurdles" and the Rams must commit to a southern California move after next season.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently announced that no team will be moving before the 2015 season. Under NFL bylaws, the Rams would need to apply for relocation between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, 2016, and prove the organization "has exhausted all attempts to remain in its current location."

If they move, the Rams would likely play in the Rose Bowl or Los Angeles Coliseum -- where they played from 1946 to 1979 -- during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

The team has been one of the worst in the league for several years, and has not managed a playoff appearance since 2004. They went 6-10 this season under head coach Jeff Fisher, who is expected to lead the team again in 2015.

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